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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Isolation Of Rna From A Mixture And Its Detection By Utilizing A Microgel-Based Optical Device, Molla R. Islam, Shakiba Azimi, Faranak Teimoory, Glen Loppnow, Michael J. Serpe Sep 2018

Isolation Of Rna From A Mixture And Its Detection By Utilizing A Microgel-Based Optical Device, Molla R. Islam, Shakiba Azimi, Faranak Teimoory, Glen Loppnow, Michael J. Serpe

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In this investigation, we show that RNA can be separated from a solution containing DNA and RNA and the isolated RNA can be detected using poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-(3-aminopropyl) methacrylamide hydrochloride) microgel-based optical devices (etalons). The isolation of RNA was accomplished by using hairpin-functionalized magnetic beads (MMPDNA) and differential melting, based on the fact that the DNA–RNA hybrid duplex is stronger (i.e., high melting temperature) than the DNA–DNA duplex (i.e., low melting temperature). By performing concurrent etalon sensing and fluorescent studies, we found that the MMPDNA combined with differential melting was capable of selectively separating RNA from DNA. This selective separation and …


1h And 13c Nmr Assignments For (N-Methyl)-(−)-(Α)-Isosparteinium Iodide And (N-Methyl)-(−)-Sparteinium Iodide, Kavoos Kolahdouzan, O. Maduka Ogba, Daniel J. O'Leary Aug 2018

1h And 13c Nmr Assignments For (N-Methyl)-(−)-(Α)-Isosparteinium Iodide And (N-Methyl)-(−)-Sparteinium Iodide, Kavoos Kolahdouzan, O. Maduka Ogba, Daniel J. O'Leary

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

(‒)-Sparteine (1) and (–)-(α)-isosparteine (2) are members of the lupine alkaloid family.[1-2] Sparteine has found extensive use in asymmetric organic transformations, including lithiations[3] and Pd-catalyzed oxidations.[4-7] (α)-Isosparteine, which can be made from sparteine, has been utilized as a chiral ligand for a limited number of stereoselective reactions.[8-9] The two compounds differ in that 1 displays an exo-endo arrangement of the bridgehead hydrogens at C-11 and C-6, respectively, while 2 retains an exo-exo arrangement of these atoms (Figure 1). This study is focused on assigning 1H chemical shifts and coupling constants and 13C chemical shifts for N-methyl …


Fars2 Mutations Presenting With Pure Spastic Paraplegia And Lesions Of The Dentate Nuclei, Supreet K. Sahai, Rebecca E. Steiner, Margaret G. Au, John M. Graham, Norikio Salamon, Michael Ibba, Tyler M. Pierson Aug 2018

Fars2 Mutations Presenting With Pure Spastic Paraplegia And Lesions Of The Dentate Nuclei, Supreet K. Sahai, Rebecca E. Steiner, Margaret G. Au, John M. Graham, Norikio Salamon, Michael Ibba, Tyler M. Pierson

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Mutations in FARS2, the gene encoding the mitochondrial phenylalanine‐tRNA synthetase (mtPheRS), have been linked to a range of phenotypes including epileptic encephalopathy, developmental delay, and motor dysfunction. We report a 9‐year‐old boy with novel compound heterozygous variants of FARS2, presenting with a pure spastic paraplegia syndrome associated with bilateral signal abnormalities in the dentate nuclei. Exome sequencing identified a paternal nonsense variant (Q216X) lacking the catalytic core and anticodon‐binding regions, and a maternal missense variant (P136H) possessing partial enzymatic activity. This case confirms and expands the phenotype related to FARS mutations with regards to clinical presentation and neuroimaging findings.


Microgel Core/Shell Architectures As Targeted Agents For Fibrinolysis, Purva Kodlekere, L. Andrew Lyon Jun 2018

Microgel Core/Shell Architectures As Targeted Agents For Fibrinolysis, Purva Kodlekere, L. Andrew Lyon

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

We demonstrate the utility of microgel core/shell structures conjugated to fibrin-specific peptides as fibrinolytic agents. Poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) (pNIPMAm) based microgels conjugated to the peptide GPRPFPAC (GPRP) were observed to bring about fibrin clot erosion, merely through exploitation of the dynamic nature of the clots. These results suggest the potential utility of peptide–microgel hybrids in clot disruption and clotting modulation.


Codon Usage Revisited: Lack Of Correlation Between Codon Usage And The Number Of Trna Genes In Enterobacteria, Joaquín Rojas, Gabriel Castillo, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Sara Elgamal, Omar Orellana, Michael Ibba, Assaf Katz Jun 2018

Codon Usage Revisited: Lack Of Correlation Between Codon Usage And The Number Of Trna Genes In Enterobacteria, Joaquín Rojas, Gabriel Castillo, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Sara Elgamal, Omar Orellana, Michael Ibba, Assaf Katz

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

It is widely believed that if a high number of genes are found for any tRNA in a rapidly replicating bacteria, then the cytoplasmic levels of that tRNA will be high and an open reading frame containing a higher frequency of the complementary codon will be translated faster. This idea is based on correlations between the number of tRNA genes, tRNA concentration and the frequency of codon usage observed in a limited number of strains as well as from the fact that artificially changing the number of tRNA genes alters translation efficiency and consequently the amount of properly folded protein …


Ef-P Post-Translational Modification Has Variable Impact On Polyproline Translation In Bacillus Subtilis, Anne Witzky, Katherine R. Hummels, Rodney Tollerson Ii, Andrei Rajkovic, Lisa A. Jones, Daniel B. Kearns, Michael Ibba Apr 2018

Ef-P Post-Translational Modification Has Variable Impact On Polyproline Translation In Bacillus Subtilis, Anne Witzky, Katherine R. Hummels, Rodney Tollerson Ii, Andrei Rajkovic, Lisa A. Jones, Daniel B. Kearns, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Elongation factor P (EF-P) is a ubiquitous translation factor that facilitates translation of polyproline motifs. In order to perform this function, EF-P generally requires posttranslational modification (PTM) on a conserved residue. Although the position of the modification is highly conserved, the structure can vary widely between organisms. In Bacillus subtilis, EF-P is modified at Lys32 with a 5-aminopentanol moiety. Here, we use a forward genetic screen to identify genes involved in 5-aminopentanolylation. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the PTM mutant strains indicated that ynbB, gsaB, and ymfI are required for modification and that yaaO, yfkA, and …


Enhancing Clot Properties Through Fibrin-Specific Self-Cross-Linked Peg Side-Chain Microgels, Nicole Welsch, Ashley C. Brown, Thomas H. Barker, L. Andrew Lyon Mar 2018

Enhancing Clot Properties Through Fibrin-Specific Self-Cross-Linked Peg Side-Chain Microgels, Nicole Welsch, Ashley C. Brown, Thomas H. Barker, L. Andrew Lyon

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Excessive bleeding and resulting complications are a major cause of death in both trauma and surgical settings. Recently, there have been a number of investigations into the design of synthetic hemostatic agents with platelet-mimicking activity to effectively treat patients suffering from severe hemorrhage. We developed platelet-like particles from microgels composed of polymers carrying polyethylene glycol (PEG) side-chains and fibrin-targeting single domain variable fragment antibodies (PEG-PLPs). Comparable to natural platelets, PEG-PLPs were found to enhance the fibrin network formation in vitro through strong adhesion to the emerging fibrin clot and physical, non-covalent cross-linking of nascent fibrin fibers. Furthermore, the mechanical reinforcement …